Gunnar Larsson (swimmer)

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Gunnar Larsson
Gunnar Larsson 1970.jpg
Gunnar Larsson in April 1970
Personal information
Full nameCarl Gunnar Larsson
NationalitySwedish
Born (1951-05-12) 12 May 1951 (age 72)
Malmö, Sweden
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight86 kg (190 lb)
Sport
Sport Swimming
Strokes Medley
Club SK Ran, Malmö SS
Medal record
Representing Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1972 Munich 200 m medley
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1972 Munich 400 m medley
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1973 Belgrade 200 m medley
European Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1970 Barcelona 400 m freestyle
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1970 Barcelona 200 m medley
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1970 Barcelona 400 m medley
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1970 Barcelona 200 m freestyle

Karl Gunnar Larsson (born 12 May 1951) is a former swimmer from Sweden. He won the 400 metre individual medley event at the 1972 Summer Olympics by two one-thousandths (0.002) of a second over American Tim McKee, breaking the Olympic record. [1] The controversy over the accuracy of such timing was the reason the international swimming rules were subsequently changed, and today swimming times are measured in hundredths of a second.

He also won the 200 metre individual medley event at the same Olympic Games, setting the new world record. [1] Two years earlier, Larsson received the Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal due to his swimming at the 1970 European championships where he won three gold (200 metre medley, 400 metre medley and 400 metre freestyle) and one silver (200 m freestyle). [2] A year later, 1973, Larsson won the 200 metre individual medley at the first official FINA World Championships in Belgrade. [2]

During his career, Larsson set three world and eight European records. [3] Together with Arne Borg he is considered as Sweden's greatest swimmer of all time. In 1979, he was inducted in the International Swimming Hall of Fame. [4]

Larsson retired from competitive swimming in 1973 and until 1980 worked as a swimming coach. Later he took miscellaneous jobs, mostly with McDonald's and the Swedish Swimming Federation (2000–2005); he also did one year of acting in 2003. Between 1974 and 2004 he worked as part-time swimming commentator with radio stations.

His mother died in 1960 when he was only nine years old. In 1979, he married Marianne Larsson. They have three children: Lotten (b. 1978), Emelie (b. 1980) and Amanda (b. 1989). [3] His elder sisters, Karin and Kristina, are also former Olympic swimmers. [1] [5]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Gunnar Larsson". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
  2. 1 2 Gunnar LARSSON. les-sports.info
  3. 1 2 Bo Hultén (2005). Tre olympiska Larssons från Malmö [ permanent dead link ]. bredband.net
  4. ↑ "GUNNAR LARSSON (SWE) 1979 Honor Swimmer". ISHOF.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015.
  5. ↑ Gunnar Larsson. Swedish Olympic Committee
Records
Preceded by Men's 200 metre individual medley
world record holder (long course)
12 September 1970 – 24 August 1974		Succeeded by
Awards
Preceded by Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal
1970		Succeeded by
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